Tehran: India to deploy border guards for Indian embassy

India is planning to deploy a contingent of its border guarding troops for strengthening the security of its embassy in Iran.

A squad of 10-15 specially trained personnel may take position at the embassy as a part of the overall security mechanism of the installation located at the Mir Emad Street in Tehran.

The contingent is expected to be drawn from the paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal, a force under the union home ministry which guards Indian frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan.

The Indian embassy, according to sources, does not face any specific threat to its security but it was required to spruce up the security of the mission on the lines of what is prevalent at Indian embassies in Kabul, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

The contingent will be deployed after necessary clearances from the Ministry of External Affairs are obtained, sources privy to the development said. The personnel, who would be deployed, will be trained in commando tactics and will be adept for rendering VIP security, mobile and static security duties and would also deliver technical support responsibilities, they said.

The paramilitary personnel will also be trained in vehicle driving, un-armed combat and for providing proximate security to the officials and staff of the Indian embassy, whenever required.

An assessment report on the present security situation in context of the Embassy and the proposed deployment of the squad has already been forwarded to the union home and external affairs ministry, the sources said.

The over 40,000-personnel strong SSB guards the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders and is the lead intelligence gathering force at these 'open' borders.